Toy pistol in hand and cap on backwards, Indiana State Representative Vernon Smith resorted to bizarre theatrics in his failed bid to prevent a pro-gun bill from passing in the House. From the Evansville Courier & Press:
Explaining his support for the "Wild Wild West," he fired the fake pistol, saying, "Bang, bang, shoot 'em up!"
"This is indeed an NRA state," Smith said. "I pledge allegiance, not to the flag, but to the NRA."
The bill in question is HB 1065. You can read it here. In essence, it:
Prohibits a person, including an individual, a corporation, and a governmental entity, from adopting or enforcing a policy or rule that prohibits or has the effect of prohibiting an individual from legally possessing a firearm that is locked in the individual's vehicle while the vehicle is in or on the person's property.
It also establishes a qualified protection that:
[T]he state, a political subdivision, or any other person may not prohibit or restrict the lawful possession, transfer, sale, transportation, storage, display, or use of firearms or ammunition during [an emergency].
That's to help safeguard citizens from having firearms confiscated, as happened during Hurricane Katrina.
So what's Smith's reasoning for opposing the bill? Why is he against it?
Again from the Courier & Press:
Smith said he once became so angry at a man who was picking on him at a dance that if he had a gun, he might have used it.
"It shows you that when you have a gun, how many times you don't think," Smith said.
This would appear to be one of those times, Rep. Smith. And you would do well to consider that your thoughlessness, emotionalism and lack of control, and the projection of your self-perceived inadequacies onto others, have no bearing on the unalienable rights of those of us who aren't just plain silly.
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GONV interviewed at SHOT
Dudley Brown of the National Association for Gun Rights spoke with Robert Johnson of Gun Owners of Nevada.
Click here to read their discussion.
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Sente not a member
In a follow-up to yesterday's post, we learn from the Daily Herald:
Officials from the Virginia-based National Rifle Association confirmed Thursday that state Rep. Carol Sente is not a member of the guns rights group, contrary to automated campaign calls being made.
Good. I'd have been disappointed to think the Association would give up member names. And if she had been one, I'd have felt obliged by her support for "gun control" to campaign to have her expelled.
Comments
Which is why children "act out". The lack of a vocabulary, intellect, and experience is what causes this kind of thing. The reason he's in a legislature is because the people who sent him are pretty much like him. Maybe he could do some ads for a payday loan company, just before he's jailed for bribery.
The first one to try and disarm me will be the first victim.
An effective strategy against these idiots is ridicule. Agent Smith is making it easy for us.
@RSBL - You say 'first victim'...I say '1st perpetrator'
I believe that gun owners in general will be the 'first victim' of any crime to disarm us. Now let's have meaningful discussion about 'victim rights'...starting with our own.
1. I have a right to be armed without limitation.
2. I have the unalienable duty to defend myself, my family, my property, and my means of living with up to and including deadly force.
3. I have a right to exercise ALL of my Constitutional Rights to include peacefully assembling (armed), legal counsel & search & seizure protections.
4. I have the right to refuse to obey laws that violate due process
Airlines have Passenger Rights.
Citizens have Bill of Rights.
Hospitals have Patient Rights.
Gun Owners have...a patch-work of laws, rules, ordinances and a mine-field full of bureaucracy that puts us in the same lines as sex-offenders.
Where do we start?
parabarbarian says: "An effective strategy against these idiots is ridicule. Agent Smith is making it easy for us."
No kidding. Next election, I imagine Smith's opponent will have a blast with that photo.
What a clown. Dear constituents, this is a "non-example" of an effective statesman. You elected a clown.
Seem that most of these anti-gunners have a serious problem with projection.
They'll often claim that at one time, if they'd had access to a gun they would have shot someone in anger.
The believe that everyone's as unhinged as they are.
citizenjohn says:
"What a clown. Dear constituents, this is a "non-example" of an effective statesman. You elected a clown."
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Exactly! Unfortunately, there is no shortage of clowns in office. Nor is there any shortage of clowns running for office. The reason is quite simple. There is no shortage of clowns who sleep through the whole election cycle, wake up on election day, then go into the voting booth and play "multiple guess" with their ballot. And then go home feeling good about themselves for discharging their civic responsibilities. No one should be surprised at the results.
Smith the Fool said "It shows you that when you have a gun, how many times you don't think"
No, actually the opposite is true. When you have a gun you keep your temper in check over petty things, like that which made Smith want to kill someone.
Ok, you got me, I will rephrase my comment to:
The first one to try and disarm me is the winner of a bright shiny new gaping hole in their chest!
I just dont understand these people, if they hate our freedoms so much, why dont they move away to somewhere more restrictive, like England? Oh, thats right, after they got rid of guns for private citizens...the crime skyrocketed, who would want to live there now?
Until we start arresting and jailing polititions for even mentioning violations of our rights they swore to uphold and protect...this will continue.
We could as easily use his logic to state that this is why black people should be disqualified from holding elective office. How that shoe fit now?
RSBL,
Arresting someone for mentioning violating our rights is a violation of their rights. Try to be a little more consistent in your defense of liberty.
Indiana State Representative Vernon Smith may well be unfit tempermentally to posess a firearm. But under our system of government, that is his call. He does not have the power to make that call for others. If he is not aware of that, he may also be unfit to serve in the office he holds. That would be the call of the voters in his district. IMHO they should consider tossing him. They very likely can do better if they try.
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